Centering for reinforced-concrete bridges, floors, and the like.



WILBUR J. WATSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CENTERING FOR REINORCED-CONCRETE BRIDGES, FLOORS, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed september s, 1913. serial No. 788,498.

To ZZ fie/mm may concern it known that I, Winnen J. I'VATSON, a cit en of he Il ited States, residing in Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Centering for Rein- 'liorced-Goncrete Bridges, Floors, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to reinforced con.- crete bridge construction., and one of its principal objects is a provision of parts supported by the reinforcements for molding the concreto ,into predetermined form and position.

Heretofore, in practice, forms for the pouring of concrete around the reinforcement of bridges `have been usually sup ported from the river bed which the bridge spanned. It has often been found ditiicult to construct forms and support them in this manner, and such forms have often been disarranged or carried away by the current of `the stream. I therefore provide forms which can be suspended from cross bars extendin g across the upper surfaces of the metal. reinforcement of the bridge and in such position as not to be interfered with during the setting of the concrete by the current of the stream that the bridge spans. By thus hanging the parts directly from the steel frames which are suspended from the cross bars extending above the metal reinforcement, support-s placed in the stream are dispensed with and the suspended forms mayv be quickly removed after the setting of the concrete and used for other types of concrete construction. T his reduces the cost of the forms and allows more rapid construction of the bridge. I prefer to support the frames of the forms from cross bars supported above and by the reinforcing steel beams as this results in the greatest economy, both inv construction and in the adjustment of the position of the forms.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel combinations and features of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an isometric projection of a section of a broken-away portion of a bridge; Fig. 2 is a. cross sectional view illustrating the reinforcing beams with the forms supported thereon for properly molding the concrete, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of a preferred form of reinforcing beam including connecting bolts and pipe separators.

In order to illustrate the practical application of my invention I have shown in Fig. 1 an isometric projection of a portion of a bridge in connection with which my invention may be used, as shown in Fig. 2. lVhile my invention may have a general applicaltion in the construction of buildings, etc., it

is particularly adapted for the pouring of concrete about the metal reinforcement of a bridge because my improved centering forms can be suspended from cross bars eX- tending across the top and supported by the I-beams 1 of the bridge which extend longitudinally between the end abutments located on the banks of the river. The side-walk portion 2 vof the bridge is shown elevated above the roadway 3. 'l 11e I-beams are preferably constructed so as to increase the surface contact therewith of the concrete. In the present instance these I-beams are each constructed of longitudinal angle strips or bars 4, 5 and G, 7 connected together in pairs by means of bolts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The longitudinal angle strips or bars '-1, 5 are separated by means of pipe separators 8 located at intervals, and the longitudinal angle bars (i, 7 are similarly separated by means of pipe separators 9. The upper and lower pairs of longitudinal angle bars are connected together by lattice work comprisving strips or bars 10, 11 and 19.. After the I-bcams have been properly placed on the end abutments the reinforcingcross bars 1G, 17 are securely wired at 18 and 19 to the upper surfaces of the beams.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated means for supporting the frames of the forms directly from the reinforcing beams. On top of the beams, on one flange of each, is located a short pipe 19. Through this pipe extends a bolt 20 which also passes through one of the flanges of the reinforcing beams and through the horizontal plate of the angle bar Q1. This angle bar is thus rigidly secured to the upper portions of the beams and then occupies a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2. The angle bar 21 is composed of two parts 22 and fz secured together at 24k by means of removable bolts. It will be seen that a plurality of holes 25 is provided in the end portions of the bars Q2 and so that the length of the entire bar 21 may be adjusted to secure different positions of the vertical bar Q6 which is rigidly connected at Q7 to the har QL).

rllhe lower portion ot the har 26 is provided with a series of holes 28 so that the horizontal bar 29 may be secured thereto in diilierent positions. l rllhe bar is liliewise provided with a series of holes for adjustment. it 30 a depending` angle bar 3l is bolted to the inner end of the angle bar The bar 3l is provided with a series of holes 33 for djustably securing the horizontal angle bar 34 thereto at 35. rlihe bar 84 is provided with a series ot holes El@ so that the depending bar 3l may be secured in various adjusted positions. it will tlueretore be s en that by boltin l the depciuliup,i bar 25o at 2i' to the horizontal uppermost bar 22 the bars 29, 3l and 34 may be suspended in adjusted position, the adjustments being permitted by the series of holes 28, 32, 33 and 36. Suspended from the upper horizontal angle bar Q1 by means of the rods 37, 3i' is a horizontal angle bar 38 which is adjustable in length as indicated by the series of holes 39. lt will be understood that the bar 3S is composed of two parts 40 and 4l i'vhich are connected together at 42 by means et pins orbolts. lt desired, the upper ends of 'the suspended rods 37 may he provided with permanent heads 43 or with nuts on screw-threaded upper ends of the said rods. ln a similar manner the lower ends oi the rods 37 may be screw-threaded and provided with nuts 44. By means oi.2 the nuts 43 and 44 the elevation of the horizontal bar 3S may be adjusted.

To the outer ends of the bar 38 are connected at 45 the depending bars 46, which are connected at one of the holes 4? to a horizontal bar 48 which comprises two parts 34 and 49 adjustably secured together at 50. It will therefore be seen that the dependinn` bars 4 6 are secured at 5l to the horizon- Jal bar 4S. lily means et the series of holes in the depending bars 46 the horizontal har 48 may be elevated or lowered, as desired.

The right-hand portion of 2 shows the flexibility of the forni trames because the same size of bars are there used although adjusted to smaller inverted U-shaped frames. rlhe upper horizontal angle bar 52, comprising` the parts and 54, is adjustably secured together at two or more oi the holes 55 and supported by means ol.E the bolt 20 and short pipe 19 on oneV of the flanges of a beam under the surface of the roadway of the bridge. By means of the rods 37 the horizontal adjustable bars 56, 57 are supported, as shown. ist the outer ends of the bars 56 and 57 are connected at 58 and 59 the depending` bars 60 and 6lL The horizontal bar 49 may be connected at GQ to one et the series of holes in the left-hand depending bar 60. A horizontal adjustable bar 63 may be connected at G4 to the depending bars 4G and at G5 to the depending bars GO. rllhe bar 63 may also be adj ustably secured at GG, 66 to the depending` bars 6l, (31. rlhe horizontal barb?) may comprise a plurality oi' parts which are adjustably connected to each other by means of pins or bolts through a series of holes G7 and 68.

lt will be understood that a set of such forms as illustrated in Q may be connected to the metal reinforcement of the bridge at iai-ions points throughout its length. ln short bridges two such sets would si'iiiice, each set being; located in a.

suitable position a distance from each end l ot the bridge. For bridges of long' spans there may be several oi such sets ot forms connected to the reinforcing construction entirely across the bridge and located at various positions between the ends of the bridge.

Between the several sets of forms is placed timber sheeting' to form the mold. for the concrete. The horizontal boards (39 and 7() will rest on the horizontal bars and 49 respectively, the boards 69 being' located between the depending;` angle bars 3l and 46, and the boards 7G being located between the other depending' anpgle bar 46 and the angle bar (130. ',lhe boards (39 extend longitudinally between the ends ot the bridge directly under the beams constituting' part of the reinforcement. '.ll'he boards 7l, 71 are similarly located in the trames which have been adj usted to smaller size and which are located underneath the roadway instead of under the sidewalk. The vertical portions of the timber sheeting are shown in Fig'. 2 at 72, 73, 74, 75, 75, 77 and 78. rlhe boards constituting this part of the concrete mold rest against the depending' are located on opposite sides of the l`bea1ns oit' the reinforcing' structure. The upper portions oit the timber sheeting of the concrete mold are located at 79, S0, Sl and 82. The boards constituting` this sheeting;` extend longitudinally of the bridge between and at the sides oit the l-beams and are supported mainly by the upper portions of the horizontal bars 2), 3S, 55 and 57 of the inverted lishaped trames which are located at Vari ous points alonp; the bridge reinforcement. A. board may also be supported in the position shown and confined by the Vertical bars l. ln order to 'forni a curb for the sidev-Jall; a board di; may be suspended by means of bolts from the bars 21 or be otherwise held in the position shown in lllhen pouring' the concrete into the timber sheeting supported by the centering' forms, as shown in Fig. 2, l prefer to place a stop board 86 about halt way between two beams so that only two beams will be covered at one pouring' of the concrete.V ,lf desired,

only one beam may be covered by a single ars of the form frames and pouring which could be done by placing another stop board above the middle of the next form. As before explained, the steel members or beams are so constructed that the concrete will not separate from the metal. This is because the flange angles of the beams are spread sufficiently to allow the concrete to how between them and because the adhesive surface of the beam is materially increased. It Vwill be seen that by the use of the stop board 85 one or more of the beams may be covered or embedded in the concrete, and after the concrete has set sufficiently hard to carry its own weight between the beams the forms may be removed and connected up at another portion of the structure for additional pouring of concrete. It would therefore be unnecessary to have a suliieient number of forms so as to enable all of the concrete for the entire bridge to be poured at one time or continuously.

After the concrete has been poured about the beams of the sidewalk, as shown in Fig. Q, by the use of the stop board S6 and the remainder of the structure shown, and it is desired to remove the forms to another portion of the bridge it may be taken apart, provided the concrete has set sullicicntly to carry its own weight between the beams. By removing the pins or bolts at 35, 50, 51 and (32 the horizontal bar #IS may be disconnected and also the timber sheeting 69 and 70. The depending bar 26 can be removed from the bar 22 by disconnecting at 27, or from the bar 29 by disconnecting at 87. The bars 29 and 3l may be disconnected at 30, if desired. rIhe bars 4:6 may be left connected at l5 or disconnected at such points from the bars Ll() and el. Before the latter can be removed, however. the nuts 44, EL should be removed when the bolts 37, 37 can be pulled out through the concrete. After the various parts suspended from the bar il have been disconnected the bolts 2() may be loosened and the pipe l0 pulled out of the concrete and the holes that are left can be filled up.

In a similar' way after one or more of the beams of the roadway have been poured with concrete the adjustable forms may be easily removed to other locations where the operation of molding the concrete may be rei peated.

It should be noted that by having adjustable centers for the forms the latter may be used repeatedly and be immediately available for a great variety of work. This system of centers possesses considerable rigidity and can be easily adjusted to give more perfect alinement to finished concrete structures than other types of forms. rllhe frames of the forms may be constructed of timber but I prefer to have them made of steel angle bars. Steel sheeting may be used instead of timber but the greatest economy is effected by the use of timber sheeting. The

steel frames are preferable because the greatest economy results from their use as compared with timber frames.

YWhen the bolts 2O are removed the nuts at the .lower surface of the flanges of the beams are left in the concrete. The top pieces 22, 2&3, 53 and 5i are preferably made in short lengths or in such lengths as to eX- tend over two molding frames. A number of these top pieces may 'be bolted together for greater strength, if desired, holes being provided in lthe separate lengths for that purpose. In the particular type of bridge illustrated the structural steel reinforcement is computed to carry the dead load without assistam'e from the concrete, the concrete and steel structure and reinforcing bars acting together to resist the live load stresses. The structure cannot fail, therefore, by reason of faulty concrete and defective concrete can easily be repaired. T he structure, therefore, combines all the advantages of structural steel and reinforced concrete construction. Although the means of centering the forms and si'ispending them is particularly adapted to the construction of bridges where it is undesirable to place the forms in a strean'i, the invention may have a general application. Furthermore, because of the iiexibility of the forms they may be removed in a short space of time and therefore rapid construction of the bridge may be effected. It will also be observed that the forms are very simple in construction and method of application. These advantages can be obtained in the 'building of various kinds of reinforced concrete bridges even though the current in the stream is not considerable but where its depth is comparatively great.

W'hile the drawings show form supports made of steel' angles, the same may be made of timber, or a combination of timber and steel or iron. In pouring concrete, the iiuid is preferably poured into the forms from each end of the I-beams toward the center, simultaneously.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts as defined by the claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

That I claim and desire to have secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In combination, means adapted to cooperate with reinforcement for a reinforced concrete structure comprising longitudinal I-beams, consisting of a plurality of crossbars supported by said I-beams, a vertical curb strip suspended from said cross-bars, and a mold for pouring concrete mixture about the reinforcement suspended from said cross-bars.

2. In combination, means adapted to c0- operate with reinforcement for a reinforced concrete structure consisting of a plurality of cross-bars supported by a part of said reinforcement, horizontal strips adjustable in length and suspended troni said crossbars, additional strips connected to the outer ends ot said horizontal strips and depending troni the saine, additional horizontal strips adjnstably connected to said depending strips either horizontally or vertically, ineans igor adjustingl the length of said additional horizontal strips, and sheeting supported by both sets ot horizontal strips and by the dependin;` strips to torni a inold for the pouring oit concrete mixture about said rein'l'oreeinent.

3. in combination., ineans adapted to cooperate with reinforcement for a reinforced couorete structure consisting of a plurality of cross-bars angular in Cross section and adjustable in length, bolts ior connectingthe cross-bars to a part ot said reinforcenieut, pipe separators tor holding the cross` bars at a predetermined distance above the naieos reinforcement, suspension bolts Connected to said cross-bars, horizontal strips supported by said suspension bolts, ineans for adjusting the length or' said horizontal strips, dependingl strips connected to the outer ends of said horizontal strips, addi- :V

tional horizontal strips, ineans for adjustabiy connecting said additional horizontal strips to said depending stri is both as to .f'ertical position and as to horizontal. position, ineens for adjusting the length otl said additional horizontal strips, and sheeting` resting on the upper and lower horizontal strips and against the dependingl strips to 'torni a molding ior the pouring oi concrete mixture about the rointinceinent.

in testimony whereof l have signed iny naine to this specification, in the presence ot two subscribing' witnesses, on this 2nd day ot September, A. D. 1918.

lILBR J. VVfiTSUN. lfVitnesses (linie. M. Nissen, M. HARDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 'rive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. t1. 

